Custom Station Wagons

Street rod station wagons is one of the most recent and fastest growing trends in the street rodding hobby. At every event we’ve been to this year, wagons are showing up in ever increasing numbers. To those old enough to remember hot rodding’s golden era from the ‘50s, the trend might seem surprising. Back then, hot rodders were building and driving stripped down, souped up Model As and Deuces, and custom guys were building and driving Shoebox F ords, Mercs, and fat fendered cars. The station wagon was Mom’s ride—reserved for carrying groceries home from the market, or chauffering the Little League team to their game. With the exception of woodies (which wedged their way into the hobby as surf wagons) and Nomads (which succeeded based on their classic styling), station wagons didn’t exist in the enthusiast hobby.

So what happened that has made station wagons a legitimate segment of street rodding? Economics is part of it. The Model As and Deuces, which were affordable and plentiful 60 years ago, are prohibitively expensive to many enthusiasts now, but a wagon (except for those woodies and Nomads) can be found for a lot less. Nostalgia is another part of the picture. The wagons that have managed to survive 50 or 60 years have now attained “classic” status, as well as an appeal to people who want something a little offbeat. And big—don’t forget big!

We created this gallery of wagons from the last few seasons of event coverage. It’s a small sample of what’s out there, but we hope wagon enthusiasts will enjoy it. And maybe a few skeptics will become fans. That’s the great thing about wagons, there’s room for everybody.